Thomas Massie Removed From Congressional Committee

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has removed Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) from the House Rules Committee, Axios reports.

The report follows Massie refusing to support Johnson for speaker.

“Rep. LUNA says Massie asked to be removed. Fellow ‘disruptor’ Chip Roy remains on the committee,” Florida’s Voice Assistant News Director Eric Daugherty said.

Rep. LUNA says Massie asked to be removed. Fellow “disruptor” Chip Roy remains on the committee.https://t.co/2Rzh7EdHKb

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 14, 2025

Axios reports:

Massie’s departure from the influential panel could make it easier for Johnson to get legislation to the House floor.

He has been replaced with Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-Va.), a low-key member of the right-wing House Freedom Caucus who rarely joins his colleagues’ rebellions against leadership.

Johnson often had to bypass the panel last Congress and rely on Democratic votes to pass key legislation.

ADVERTISEMENT

Massie, a hardline conservative libertarian, said after voting against Johnson on Jan. 3 that he would step off the panel voluntarily.

The House Republican conference voted in a closed-door meeting Tuesday morning to approve a new committee roster that excludes Massie.

JUST IN: Speaker Johnson has removed Congressman Thomas Massie from the rules committee

This is a bad move, Speaker Johnson. pic.twitter.com/TdIWuppwBW

— Kylie Jane Kremer (@KylieJaneKremer) January 14, 2025

According to POLITICO, Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), who received medical attention after falling at the U.S. Capitol, will chair the House Rules Committee.

BREAKING Speaker Johnson has named Rep. Virginia Foxx as Chair of the House Rules Committee pic.twitter.com/CEeZMOPbIz

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) January 14, 2025

From POLITICO:

Foxx will be the first Republican woman to chair the panel and the second woman ever, following the late Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.). A former chair of the Education and Workforce Committee, she will be the only House Republican woman to hold a full committee gavel this Congress.

Johnson chose Foxx to succeed now-retired Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Okla.). Unlike most other House committees, the Rules gavel is chosen solely at the discretion of the speaker — a recognition of the panel’s key role in managing business on the House floor.

In another potentially impactful move, Johnson appointed Reps. Morgan Griffith (R-Va.) and Brian Jack (R-Ga.) to Rules — replacing Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Guy Reschenthaler (R-Pa.). The membership changes were described by two Republicans familiar with the move.

Massie, among a trio of hard-right members named to the panel in 2023 by former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, is a frequent critic of House leadership and voted against Johnson as speaker earlier this month. Griffith is a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, but is also viewed as more respectful of leadership prerogatives. Jack, a freshman, was formerly a top political aide to McCarthy and to President-elect Donald Trump.

ADVERTISEMENT

This is a Guest Post from our friends over at 100 Percent Fed Up.

View the original article here.